Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Virginia Hamilton - Author Extraordinaire!

Virginia Hamilton is truly one of the best!! Her work has been popular for years and continues to touch young readers and adults alike. When I was asked to showcase her work - I was honored. She is truly one of "the greats"!!

To celebrate her life and National Library Week - here are some great offerings!

VIDEO: A Library’s Shaping of Virginia HamiltonThis brand new video in honor of National Library Week features Hamilton’s husband, poet Arnold Adoff, in their Yellow Springs Community Library reflecting on the tremendous impact the public library had on Virginia as a child, which ultimately lead to her powerful brand of storytelling that helped define the lives of generations of African Americans. You can find this video, as well as more information on Hamilton and her ebooks, at http://www.openroadmedia.com/authors/virginia-hamilton.aspx.

ARTICLE: “Sentinels in Long Still Rows” Originally published in the American Libraries 1999 June/July issue, Hamilton recalls getting her inspiration from a children’s librarian bearing books of many sizes and hues. A library stack rover at an early age, she eagerly anticipated the arrival of her town’s “Story Lady” at her school, and acknowledges the importance of libraries in contributing to the process of “never letting us forget who we are, for their worth stands by the knowledge they keep and save for us.”

I also have EXCITING news!! Just because you are reading my blog - you can win an ebook copy of Hamilton's book, M.C. Higgins the Great! (This will be a free review copy via NetGalley.) If you would like to win this ebook copy - just leave a comment below - I'd love to hear if you've read any of Virginia Hamilton's books and what you thought!!